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Economic Reformer Will Lead Shanghai

HONG KONG, March 24 — The ruling Communist Party appointed Xi Jinping as the top leader of Shanghai, the east coast urban center whose previous leadership was purged in one of the most sweeping corruption crackdowns in the country’s recent history.

Mr. Xi, 53, was the party boss of neighboring Zhejiang Province and is regarded by political analysts in China as favoring deeper market-oriented reforms.

His appointment, announced by the official Xinhua news agency on Saturday, follows the removal last fall of Chen Liangyu, the Shanghai party chief and a member of the Politburo. Mr. Xi replaces an acting party chief, Han Zheng, who is also Shanghai’s mayor. Mr. Chen was accused of steering state pension funds into real estate and construction projects that benefited relatives and close business associates. He and other top Shanghai officials and local businessmen face possible criminal charges in the matter, though no charges have been filed to date.

Mr. Chen’s ouster was a political victory for President Hu Jintao, who had sought to install a more loyal party chief in China’s leading commercial center for more than two years. Mr. Chen was viewed as an ally of China’s former top leader, Jiang Zemin, who made Shanghai his power base.

As the new Shanghai leader, Mr. Xi will almost certainly be given a seat on the Politburo. He is also considered a contender for a spot on the Politburo Standing Committee after the party realigns its leadership at the coming party congress.